Interview by Sarah Gendron

Youshay Rizvi is a senior International Studies major from Hackensack, New Jersey, and will be attending graduate school at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in the fall 2019 semester to pursue an MA in American Foreign Policy.

The Baylor in Washington Semester Program provides students with a unique experiential learning and professional development opportunity. Through internship service, academic rigor, and thoughtful research, Semester Program students will enjoy and profit from this unique opportunity to experience Washington, D.C. in community with other Baylor students.

How would you describe the Semester in Washington Program?

The Baylor In Washington program is a semester-long study “abroad” experience where you take a weekly public policy class, write a research paper, visit unique and significant Washington DC sites, and work a full-time internship. The program is a great opportunity for me, a graduating senior, to gain professional experience in my field and simultaneously prepare myself for life after graduation. The program has provided me the opportunity to take private tours of the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and Lockheed Martin. In addition, the program hosts dinners and other social events where the students get to meet Baylor alumni that live and work in Washington DC. During the government shutdown, I could not start my internship at the Department of Justice but a Baylor alumnus that I met at one of these dinners gave me a position in the Congressional office he worked in.

What is your internship?

My internship is at the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs South America team. I help Senior Trial Attorneys extradite criminals from other countries so that they can stand trial in the United States. I do this by drafting legal memoranda, helping edit prosecutorial and agent affidavits, drafting communications with the Department of State, and translating documents between English and Spanish. Our office also counsels federal, state, and local prosecutors and law enforcement authorities on how to structure their investigations with U.S. bilateral treaty obligations and international law in mind. I have learned in depth about U.S. criminal law, international law, and intergovernmental affairs. This internship with DoJ helped me realize that I want to pursue public service at the highest level and has opened me up to the idea of pursuing that career in law enforcement.

What is it like living in DC?

D.C. is an amazing city for young professionals. It is diverse, exciting, and unlike any other city in the world. I have made some great friends in and outside of the Baylor program that enriched my experience here. I have not had a single person in this city turn down a request of mine to sit down, have coffee, and talk about life, work, sports, or anything else. Given the high turnover and international environment, people in D.C. are naturally social and easy to befriend. The diversity of food options outside of Waco is something to note as well.

What has been your favorite experience so far?

I was lucky enough to be invited to Attorney General William P. Barr’s Welcome Reception for Department of Justice Criminal Division employees. At the reception, I got to meet Attorney General Barr briefly. I also got to talk to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for almost half an hour. He was extremely gracious with his time, gave insightful advice, and it was an honor to speak with him at length. That has easily been my favorite experience.

Is it difficult to balance school with your internship?

It can be difficult to balance classwork and my internship. However, it is manageable. It may require a little sacrifice on some weekends or after a long day of work yet I still find my work-life balance to be healthy and productive.

Would you recommend this program for other IST majors?

I would absolutely recommend the Baylor In Washington program for all IST major students. Washington D.C. is one of the only places on earth where an IST major can truly experience how the theory and history we study actually makes its way into contemporary policy. For those IST majors who want to work in politics or policy someday, Washington D.C. is the best place to meet the people who can help you achieve that. It is also the best place to see if you are on the right career path or if you may want to pursue a different avenue of specialization.

The Department of Justice has internship and leadership development programs for undergraduate students, law students, and recent graduates.